We are experiencing some behavior problems here and I would be open to any advice anyone would have.

Zoey is suddenly terrified of Ozzy. She catches sight of him and she literally freaks out. They have had their little tiffs now and then, but she has never freaked out about it or went into hiding.

It all started 2 weeks ago when she got her head caught in the handle of a paper grocery bag. Ozzy was next to her when it happened and I couldn't get it off of her fast enough. She went into fits of growling, hissing and hiding that lasted all evening whenever she saw Ozzy. Also as soon as she bolted for the bedroom the other 2 cats were hot on her heels chasing her to see what all the ruckus was about. The next day everything seemed to be fine. I figured it was an association thing because he was near by when it happened.

Now today, everything was fine this morning and all three cats were in the basement. Suddenly there was a commotion and I could hear Zoey growling and hissing and all 3 were running full force up the stairs. She was under the bed and the freak out started all over again. I had to leave for work and worried about it all day. When I came home everyone met me at the door and everything seem pretty much okay. Zoey seemed guarded and Ozzy well, he seemed like he knew he was top cat all of a sudden.

For no reason he started stalking around and she caught sight of it and the freak out started all over again. It has been going on all night. She eventually comes out, walks around, sees him, freaks out. Sometimes they even get nose to nose, standing next to each other and then she freaks out with the growling and hissing.

So now its like he knows she is afraid of him and kind of antagonizes it so it seems. He has always been the dominant one and does tend to be somewhat aggressive but it has been like that from day one.

They have been together for almost 2 years (in July) and we have NEVER had this kind of problem. Like I said a few tiffs here and there.

I even bought some stuff called Rescue Recovery, a natural stress reliever for pets. (Oops, I stand corrected, it is as Mark mentioned below in his post, Rescue Remedy.) Unless it takes awhile to work, I can't see that it is doing anything.

I was told that anise extract on the backs of their necks can help calm them down. Well all three smell like licorice drops and no one is calm.

Just a few minutes ago, I caught Ozzy trying to get agressive with Lucy. He was going to lace into her, but I yelled at him and he quit.

All 3 are neutered or spayed.

Getting rid of someone is not an option.

So the kingdom is in turmoil.

If you have any ideas and would rather email me than post here feel free to email me via the address on my profile page.

Can anyone help me??

PS: In the time it took for me to upload this and write this, Zoey came walking in the room, walked right by Ozzy and jumped up on my lap. No hissing, no growling, no freaking out. Now I think I am going to go down some of that critter stress reliever. I don't get it.